The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs will battle it out in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals later tonight.
With a place in the NBA Finals on the line, the Thunder will be sweating on the fitness of key guard Ajay Mitchell.
Ajay Mitchell Injury Update: Will the Thunder Guard Play in Game 7 vs. the Spurs?
Mitchell has seamlessly transitioned into the Thunder starting lineup during the NBA postseason, stepping in to replace injured teammate Jalen Williams. However, he has been sidelined due to a right soleus (calf) strain. He has missed the last two games and will also be sidelined for Game 7.
The official injury report has Mitchell listed as “out” alongside fellow guard Jalen Williams. The latter missed the entire Lakers series before returning in Game 1 against the Spurs for 26 points in 37 minutes. He only played 7 minutes in Game 2 before missing Games 3, 4, and 5.
Williams attempted to return to action in Game 6, but looked clearly affected by his hamstring strain. He only managed to score 1 point in 10 minutes and will miss Game 7, leaving the reigning NBA champions severely shorthanded.
With the two main guards injured, Jared McCain has slotted into the Thunder starting lineup. The Duke alum scored 20 points in 33 minutes during the Thunder’s win in Game 5, before dropping 13 points in 27 minutes during their Game 6 loss.
McCain averaged 8.3 points on 42.5% shooting during the regular season, and head coach Mark Daigneault will be hopeful that he can make a similar impact to his Game 5 performance.
Alongside Williams and Mitchell, rookie guard Thomas Sorber will also miss Game 7 as he continues his recovery from a right ACL tear. The Spurs have no injuries to report going into Game 7.
The Thunder will be relying on two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the way on Saturday. The 27-year-old had an off night in Game 7 and was limited to just 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting. However, he is averaging 27.1 points per game during the postseason and will have his sights set on leading the Thunder past Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
Game 7 will take place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, with tip-off set for 8 p.m. ET. The Thunder have won two of the three games in this series at home. The winning team will move on to the NBA Finals, where the New York Knicks await. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for June 3.
